Federal Liberal leadership candidate Martha Hall Findlay, former MP for the Toronto riding of Willowdale, on my new politics show, Battleground last night, makes the claim that “It’s a bit odd, but in terms of fiscal prudence, there is an argument to be said, that I’m arguably more conservative than Stephen Harper. These guys have been spending like crazy.”
She’s right! [And you can look it up here]
Stephen Harper’s first budget, the 2006-2007 budget, contained $188.3 billion in program expenses and $33.9 billion in public debt charges. In his most recent budget, program spending is now at $240.4 billion with public debt charges of $31 billion. Program spending, then, has risen $52.1 billion or about 28 per cent. Meanwhile, government revenue in the same period has risen just 3.9 per cent from $236 billion in 2006-2007 to $245.2 billion in the most recent budget year.
Even on relative terms, the Harper government has not shown much ability to reign in spending. Program spending as percentage of GDP stood at 13 per cent in 2006-2007. Today it’s at 14 per cent. Revenue as a percentage of GDP has shrunk from 16.3 per cent down to 14.2 per cent.
I think a more than a few Old Red Tories are beginning to realize that Stephen Harper is NOT a Fiscal Conservative. The Reformers & Alliance Party hijacked the name. It should have been called the Conservative Reform Alliance Party. The acronym is fitting.
As Terrance Corcoran points out in todays Natioal Post, any Government that consistently spends more money than it raises will be defeated. His example (Dalton McGuinty) illustrates that putting your province/country in the red and ignoring accounting truths will be a political party’s downfall.
Look out Steven Harper. Martha Hall Findlay will replace you!
Bravo Greg!
–dave (a martha supporter) c-b
While Martha Hall Findlay may be “more conservative” than Steven Harper, you are forgetting two points:
1. Voters don’t care. They are motivated by handouts and freebies, and the Government is giving them what they want. Sadly, the “47%” is just as powerful here in Canada as the United States (and actually more so, since it is estimated that 60% of Canadians vote for leftist parties).
2. No matter how smart She is, the Liberals are determined to crown the Young Dauphin, in the belief that all they need is a name, not policy. See point 1.